Prickly pear, as well as other cactus species, is a common problem in pastures. It is not an uncommon sight to have many cacti growing out in a pasture. They can interfere with the movement of livestock and cause serious health problems.
Along with this, they can overtake a pasture very quickly and strangle out more desirable forages. Once they have taken hold, it will take a lot of work and many years in order to get them under control. Even with all of the work that you can put in, you will never get rid of them completely.
Because of this, they pose a very serious problem for livestock producers wherever they appear. Here are some things to consider before controlling this troublesome plant.